Church’s Heartless Eviction: Nsambya Residents Face Homelessness as Archdiocese Ignores Decades of Promises

In a betrayal that cuts to the core of faith and fairness, over 500 residents of Nsambya Housing Estate in Kampala are staring down the barrel of eviction by the very institution meant to embody compassion the Catholic Church. The Kampala Archdiocese Land Board has issued a chilling “final reminder,” demanding families vacate by April 30, 2026, citing expired 1972 leases on the 16-acre property. But for these long-time tenants, many born and raised on the land, this is no mere paperwork lapse—it’s a shattering of trust after years of assurances that redevelopment would include them, not discard them.

Back in 2016, church officials like Rev. Fr. Gerald Mpanju promised phased upgrades to modern flats, with each family guaranteed a unit at no extra cost beyond ground rent. Letters and meetings confirmed inclusion, yet now, only four out of 112 houses got mysterious 99-year renewals, leaving the rest in limbo. “We invested our lives here—pensions, families, memories,” laments one elderly resident, echoing the despair of 107 families facing displacement without compensation or relocation. Lawyers from Silicon Advocates have petitioned Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere and Lands Minister Sam Mayanja, demanding mediation and an investigation into selective renewals, citing constitutional rights against arbitrary eviction.

This saga exposes a painful irony: a church preaching mercy turning to cold legalism, potentially rendering faithful homeless. For readers, it’s a call to action—support petitions via Change.org or local NGOs like Habitat for Humanity Uganda for housing rights. As the deadline looms, Nsambya’s fate hangs in the balance, a stark reminder that even sacred institutions must uphold human dignity.